“Tales of Fists and Fireballs” from Aaron David Harris is yet another podcast who owes their existence to anime, and animation in general. An interesting source of inspiration, but not that uncommon. From original shows like “Project Gnosis” to adaptations of actual anime (e.g. “Attack on Space“), all the way to shows taking a page from classic anime like “Sailor Moon” (“Genesis Avalon”)—anime and audio drama share a history together.

A relatively new show in this style, “Tales of Fists and Fireballs” does something unique with their anime-inspired audio drama. It tells not one story, but many. And not in a serial format, but anthologized. For this audio drama anthology, the creator — Aaron David Harris — recommended three episodes. They are: “Creatures of the Noise” from season one, and “The Blood Promise” and “Gammie’s baby” from season two. These sample episodes are different from each other, but are easily described. While all episodes have anime tropes in them, only one feels like a translation of an actual anime. That episode is ‘Gammie’s Baby,” which I would describe as: “Gundam” meets “The Prestige” with a love triangle plot. You could pick any story about a rivalry between two people and a love triangle so long as giant fighting robots are used to try and solve the conflict.

Fists and Fireballs in Gammie’s Baby

The rivals are two grandmothers who are tired of sharing their grandchild with each other. They also hated each other to start, but the granddaughter is the catalyst for what happens in the audio drama. The story resolves more or less how one would expect for this type of plot, where the person caught in the middle is the prize and not the one choosing between two people as a love interest. A lopsided love triangle if you will.

The scene where the two women come together is a bit tragic, but ultimately ends happily. The granddaughter’s performance carries the scene and got me right in the heartstrings. In terms of emotional impact, “Gammie’s Baby” takes the prize of being the most impactful of the three episodes. For second place, I’d have to give to the “Creatures of Noise” for its classic story of an unbreakable friendship across lines meant to divide.

Iron Vampiric Creatures Promise Giant Noise

“Creatures of Noise” is the first episode of the podcast and it’s essentially “The Iron Giant,” but with an alien instead of a robot. Not much to say aside from the story was engaging enough for me to remember the basic plot. It’s something not many stories can do after a long gap between listening and reviewing. That alone makes it better than a lot of audio dramas, where sometimes it feels more like a checklist than me enjoying the story. It’s one of the qualities that gives an “Internally Consistent rating (8/10) a push into “Ground Breaking” territory (9/10). The same can’t be said for the last story: “The Blood Promise.”

The first episode of “Tales of Fists and Fireballs'” second season has a classical premise found in stories like”Trophy Case.” While I didn’t enjoy that particular 19 Nocturne Boulevard episode, it at least took some risks. “The Blood Promise” feels like another take on perhaps the first story about humans hunting other humans for sport. While “Trophy Case” doesn’t add much, its themes about toxic masculinity and ignorant misogyny at least fit the tone and time period of the Richard Connell story which clearly inspired it. That story is “The Most Dangerous Game” published in 1924.

“The Blood Promise” in addition to feeling like a retread is disjointed. The opening scene introduces a mother who loses her child because she’s a vampire. The community fears for the child’s safety. We then fast forward to the homage of “The Most Dangerous Game.” Despite it initially feeling like two different stories mashed together, there’s a subtle sense of wanting to replay it back. Unfortunately it doesn’t come with the first listen and by that point, the interest may be gone.

Tales of Fists and Fireballs Rating

High Internally Consistent (4/5 or 8.5-/10 Stars)